Victor Lewanski

Council - Tuesday, 10 December 2024 10.00 am

The Council voted to approve the scheme for admitting students to schools in 2026. It also agreed to close the Bagshot Community Recycling Centre, and to extend the opening hours of the Camberley Community Recycling Centre. It voted to adopt the reports from the Cabinet meetings that took place on 29 October and 26 November 2024, approved a motion on climate change and net zero targets, and referred motions on inheritance tax, farming and the rural economy, and the preventative approach to children's services to the Cabinet. A motion to allow parents to attend SEND panels was also referred to the Cabinet.

Planning and Regulatory Committee - Wednesday, 27 November 2024 10.30 am

At this meeting of the Planning and Regulatory Committee, the Committee considered two planning applications for schools: the first for a new AP school on the site of a former care home, and the second for the extension of an infant school. The committee also considered an application to register some land as a Town & Village Green and a referral of a public footpath. The committee accepted the withdrawal of the application for village green status. The committee agreed to take a neutral stance in regard to the public footpath. The applications for the two schools were discussed at length, with arguments being made both for and against them. Ultimately, the committee agreed to permit the application for the infant school, but decided to refer the application for the AP school back to Surrey County Council for reconsideration.

the Audit and Governance Committee of Surrey Council

The Committee concluded the action plan created in response to the 2022 Centre for Governance and Scrutiny's review of Council Governance, subject to an external review to take place after the May 2025 election. The Committee also received the six month complaints update report for 2024-25 and, following a lengthy discussion, asked the Chairman to write to the Corporate Leadership Team (CLT) to express its concern about the lack of progress in reducing complaints and particularly communication complaints. It also asked him to invite a member of the CLT to a future meeting to discuss what they were doing to improve complaints handling. During its consideration of the Annual Governance Statement half year update the Committee asked for a more detailed update report on the progress being made by the MySurrey Stabilisation Board to be provided in January. During its consideration of the Internal Audit Progress Report, the Committee asked for a report on the actions taken in response to the follow up audits on Tree Management and Social Value In Procurement.

Planning and Regulatory Committee - Wednesday, 30 October 2024 10.30 am

The meeting considered two planning applications for developments on land owned by Surrey County Council: one for the expansion of St Paul’s C of E Infant School in Tongham and one for the construction of extra care housing on the site of the former Colebrook and Spectrum Noke Day Centres in Redhill. Both applications were approved.

Council - Tuesday, 8 October 2024 10.00 am

The meeting started with a statement from the Leader of the Council, Councillor Tim Oliver OBE, and a statement from the Leader of the Liberal Democrat group, Councillor Paul Follows. The Council then approved the appointment of Andy Brown as the Section 151 Officer, the absence of Councillor David Lewis from Council meetings, amendments to the constitution, and noted the annual report of the Audit and Governance Committee. A debate was held on an original motion to tackle the increasing problem of motorcycles parking on pavements, which was passed. Another original motion proposed making Surrey County Council an “End Poverty” Council was passed after the rejection of an amendment to commit the Council to not reducing funding for charities that tackle poverty. Finally the Council noted the recommendations of the Communities, Environment and Highways select committee on the referral of a motion on plant based meals.